Garbage can rack



Jan. 9, 1962 c, DEAN 3,016,149

GARBAGE CAN RACK Filed May 6, 1960 INVENTOR 26 CkarlesLDean nit 1 This invention relates to supports and more particularly to a rack for suspending a receptacle in order to prevent tipping and to protect the same against corrosion resulting from contact with the ground.

In the operation of a residence it is frequently necessary to store garbage and other refuse in containers which are not protected from neighborhood dogs and the elements. Frequently such containers are tipped over by dogs searching for food, resulting in a substantial nuisance. Furthermore, the storage of containers in exposed areas causes them to rust out rapidly, particularly where they are in contact with the ground.

Various attempts have been made to provide nontipping containers or supports therefor, but these have usually been of excessive weight or required a non-standard container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rack by means of which conventional containers for garbage or refuse may be suspended clear of the ground, and which prevents the containers from being tipped over by animals and at the same time permits ordinary usage without inconvenience.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a light weight rack for suspending a garbage or refuse container substantially nontippably and which may be easily skidded along the ground for movement from one location to another.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating a rack constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicating the manner in which a container is supported;

FIG. 2, an enlarged front elevation;

FIG. 3, a section to an enlarged scale on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary section to an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a section on the line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6, a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the manner of connecting multiple rack units.

Briefly stated, the present invention is embodied in a relatively compact, light weight, bell-shaped rack which is only slightly wider than a container and has a broad base and a narrower strut-reinforced upper portion with suspenders for engaging the container depending from the intermediate portions of the struts at each side of the rack. The mounting of the container affords restricted access to its top or interior and since it is suspended from handles near its top its center of gravity is low and resists tipping to any substantial extent. Similarly, the relatively broad support for the base of the rack resists turning over of the rack itself. However, the container is easily accessible to the user and may be conveniently placed within the rack and removed therefrom and the rack may be conveniently skidded along the ground without removing the container.

With further reference to the drawings, the rack includes a pair of generally bell-shaped side frame members and 11. Each frame member has an elongated ground engaging portion 12 from the ends of which upwardly converging front and rear members 13 and 14 extend. The portions 12 are joined to the members 13 and 14 by smoothly curved elbows 15, 16 which permit the device to be dragged along the ground and to ride easily over obstructions.

At the upper ends the members 13 and 14 are connected by an arched portion 18 which is substantially flatter than the elbows 15, 16. Struts 19 connect the upper portions of members 13, 14 just beneath the arched portion 18.

The side frame members are connected together in parallel spaced relation by front and rear bracing bars 20, 21 at the ends of the ground engaging portions 12 and at their upper regions by front and rear bracing bars 22, 23 which extend between the front and rear parts of the arched portions 18. In order to increase the rigidity of the rack, a diagonal bracing bar 25 is connected across the rear of the rack from the lower portion of the member 14 on frame 10 to the upper portion of member 14 ;on frame 11. v

In order to support a conventional container, as illustrated, by its side handles, a suspender 26 having an inwardly facing lower hook 27 is swingably carried at its upper eye 28 from an eyebolt 29 attached to the inner central portion of the strut 19.

anchored by driving U-shaped stakes 30 into the ground in engagement with the elongated ground engaging portions 12 of the side frame members.

Although the rack may be constructed in various sizes and dimensions for containers of varying sizes, when constructed for a container having a maximum diameter of approximately 25 inches I have found that a satisfactory rack may have a base approximately 48 inches long and approximately 35 inches wide, a height of approximately 55 inches, and the sides tapering to approximately the Width of the container at the height of its top in suspended position.

Although the rack may be made of various materials, it is preferably made of light weight, corrosion-resistant tubing such as aluminum, the struts and bracing bars being attached by corrosion-resistant rivets or other fastenings.

In the operation of the device the container may be lifted into position to engage the handles with the hooks 27 thereby suspending the container in the rack. In such position its top is readily accessible for removal .or replacement, and the contents may be added to from either end of the device or by resting the lip of the pouring container on one of the bracing bars 22, 23 and pouring the contents downwardly into the container.

The elevated suspension of the container discourages raiding by some animals. Attempts by a dog or other animal to tip the container cause it to swing away from the marauder, the low center of gravity tending to maintain it in vertical position, thus avoiding the discharge of any substantial part of its contents. Since the bottom of the container is a substantial distance above the ground upon which the rack rests, there is no substantial possibility of the bottom engaging an object or projection portion of the surface to steady the container against swinging and facilitate tipping of the rack. Further, since the container is suspended above the ground, its outer surface tends to remain dry and corrosion is decreased.

To empty the container, the handles at the sides may be grasped to lift the same from the suspenders 26 and the container passed between the front members 13 of the side frames. The rack with the container in place .may be slid over the ground and minor obstacles, the

lower ground engaging portions functioning similarly to the runners of a sleigh.

Due to the generally pyramidal shape of the rack a plurality of the same may be stacked in telescoping relationship to conserve space in the transporting, merchandising and storing of the same. Although a single unit rack is illustrated, the same may be made in multiples of two or more as indicated in FIG. 6 for holding a plurality of containers by providing one or more additional side frames and bracing bars. If multiples of two or more are used, it should not be necessary to use the U-shaped ground engaging stakes 30 as the multiple units have increased stability.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the present invention includes a relatively light weight rack having a broadened base and a relatively narrow upper portion with means for suspending a container therein in such a Way that the container may not be tipped over by animals and in which the rack itself is substantially non-tinpable but may be easily moved across the surface of the ground.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rack for a container of the type having handles on opposite sides thereof, comprising generally bell-shaped side frame members spaced apart in parallel relation slightly more than the width of the container, said side members each having an elongated ground-engaging portion and upwardly converging front and rear portions connected at their upper ends by an arched portion, struts extending across the front and rear portions of the frame members beneath the arched portion, a suspender depending from the central portion of each of said struts, bracing bars connecting the frame members and extending between the front and rear parts, respectively, of the arched portions and between the front and rear parts, respectively of the ground-engaging portions, and a diagonal bracing bar connecting the lower end of one of said converging portions to the upper end of the parallel converging portion.

2. A multiple rack for a plurality of containers of the type having handles on opposite sides thereof, comprising at least three side frame members, each frame spaced apart in parallel relation sufiicient to receive a container, said side frame members each having a broad groundengaging portion and upwardly extending front and rear portions connected at their upper ends, bracing bars connecting the central of said frame members to the outer and extending between their upperand lower portions, and swingable suspender means depending from the upper central portion of each of said frame members.

3. The combination of a container having handles on opposite sides thereof and a rack for suspending same, said rack comprising generally triangular shaped side frame members spaced apart slightly more than the width of the container, said side members each having an elongated ground engaging lower portion and an arcuate shaped upper portion, a support strut extending across each of said frame members adjacent to said arcuate portion and generally parallel to said ground engaging portion, an eye mounted substantially centrally of each of said struts, an elongated hook pivotally connected to said eye, a pair of bracing bars connecting opposite sides of said arcuate portions, a second pair of bracing bars connecting opposite sides of said ground engaging portions whereby said hooks engage the handles of said container to suspend the same and prevent tipping thereof.

4. The structure of claim 3 including means associated with said ground engaging portions for securing said rack in fixed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,862 Donica Feb. 8, 1898 693,020 Howe Feb. 11, 1902 1,641,985 Nichols Sept. 13, 1927 2,176,298 Dillon Oct. 17, 1939 2,940,599 Gentner June 14, 1960 

